Teaching Ballet Basics
Ballet Class Basics: Plié and Tendu
Two of the first “real” ballet steps we teach in our preschool ballet classes are plié and tendu. These are also almost always the first two exercises older dancers do at the barre in ballet class. Why? Because these two steps are ballet at their most basic. Literally, “plié” means “to bend” and “tendu” means “to stretch” in French.
When done correctly, both steps require the dancer to turn her legs out from her hips. When a dancer “pliés,” her knees should go out over her toes. From above, her knees should cover her toes. If she can see her toes when she pliés, she isn’t holding her turnout. When a dancer pliés or tendus, a dancer should think of her legs as spiraling around like the stripes on a candy cane.
Plié is the start and end of many traveling steps in ballet. We plié before taking off into the air for a jump, and we land in plié. While we’re in the air, our legs are often long and straight with pointed feet—essentially the same position as a tendu. When we turn, we begin in plié and end in a plié. It may be a plié on one leg, or a lunge, but it is still a plié. But we also have to keep our standing leg straight and strong while turning—something required in tendu.
When young dancers, especially the “itty-bitties,” have a hard time relating a more tedious exercise like pliés or tendus. Try to remind them of what the step builds into. Pliés and tendus are a foundation to so much more in ballet.
PARENT CONVERSATIONS:
Encourage parents to start a conversation with their little ballerina about something she did in ballet class. They can ask her about pliés and tendus. If she’s young enough to be in a preschool ballet class, they can ask her to show them a plié or a tendu. If she’s older, they can ask her what other steps she knows or has learned recently that uses a plié or a tendu. I bet she’ll know a few if she thinks about it!
Happy Dancing!
Ashley Hartford
Founder + Owner, Once Upon a Ballet
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